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[av_heading heading=’ The month of May in the Philippines’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JUN ESCALONA
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Friday, May 19, 2017
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MAY is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and the third month to have the length of 31 days. May is also the month with the shortest name (with three letters). May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Many significant events had happened during this month in the country as well as in the province of Antique in years past.
For instance, at the instigation of the Department of Public Information’s (now Philippine Information Agency) popular Mr. Rey Parreño, the province celebrated its first Flowers of May Festival, a parade of local beauties and flowers in May, that year “nineteen forgotten.”
Yes, it was during the incumbency of the late Evelio B. Javier. It was also the first time Antiqueños were delighted to see their governor in barong tagalog.
And no, it had nothing to do with the Flowers of May, now in the internet, that is about the business of where to buy beautiful cut flowers in case you need it for birthdays, weddings and other celebrations and festivities.
On the national front, history tells us that on May 1, 1898, the naval battle between a squadron of the United States led by Admiral Geroge Dewey and a Spanish fleet under Admiral Montojo took place in Manila Bay, destroying the Spanish fleet. Soon after, the Spanish Governor-General intimated his willingness to surrender Manila but Dewey had not enough force to occupy the city.
On Aug. 7, 1898 a few months later, and after several contingents of Americans arrived, General Wesley Merritt and Admiral Dewey jointly sent the Spanish commander the following notice:
“… the operations of the land and naval forces of the United States against the defenses of Manila may begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours (Aug. 9) from the hour of receipt by you of this communication, or sooner if made necessary by attack on your part. This notice is given in order to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city …”
Manila surrendered on Aug. 13, 1898 after a brief – and actually only a token – bombardment of the outer fortifications by the fleet and an attack by the troops. This event is referred to by some Filipino historians as the “Mock Battle of Manila.”
General Arthur MacArthur was appointed Provost-Marshal-General and Civil Governor of the city.
During the next four years the government established by the Americans in the Philippines was headed by four successive Military Governors, all Major-Generals – Merritt, Otis, MacArthur, and Chaffee – although civil administration by Americans under the direction of the military commanders began immediately after the occupation of Manila.
On May 1, 1903, the first Labor Day celebration in the Philippines took place. It was organized by the Union Obrera Democratica de Filipinas, the first labor federation in the country. Thousands of workers marched from Plaza Moriones in Tondo to Malacañang to demand complete independence, while chanting anti-American capitalism and imperialism slogans.
The Union Obrero Democratica de Filipinas, formerly known as the Union Obrera Democratica, was founded on Feb. 2, 1902 by Isabelo delos Reyes and Herminigildo Cruz. It advocated the rights of the labor force during the American occupation of the Philippines.
Delos Reyes, who was arrested on August 1902 for sedition, rebellion and “conspiracy to the raise the price of labor”, was succeeded by Dominador Gomez. It was Gomez who led the first Labor Day celebration.
Later on April 8, 1908, the Philippine Assembly passed a bill making the first day of May as Labor Day, a national holiday.
Today, Labor Day (or Araw ng Manggagawa) in the Philippines is commemorated not only with parades and other forms of celebration, but also with rallies and demonstrations of the labor sector.
The celebration highlights the reality that the country’s workers have proven to be partners of government for economic development and positive social changes. (To be continued)
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